Life in April

For the first time ever Elle fell asleep in her seat eating lunch. We can be driving in a car late at night and she hasn't had a nap and she still won't fall asleep until we get home. So this was amazing. of course she woke up when I tried to move her to her bed. She's such a light sleeper. I just love kissing those cheeks. Love you Elle!

April 11 2009

Josh and I got to go to the Mama Mia musical thanks to his wonderful parents. The voices weren't spectacular but it was a blast. And the music is so fun. Would recommend it.

Easter
Two days before Easter we dyed eggs and made Easter sugar cookies. Not good cause I ate 4 in 1 day. I don't get why kids only like the frosting. Really!

Had to add this in. Elle is adorable.

Elle wanted to stop after ever egg and eat what was inside. Had to convince her to keep going for more.

Tyler knew what he was doing. He found 6 gold coin eggs. He is going to buy pokemon cards with them.

Tyler and Elle after the hunt with cousins

The Dodger Game

Josh and Tyler went to the Dodger game on Friday night with all the Bladh family and some friends. They sat in the right pavilion for the all-you-can-eat crap food. They were the first ones there when the gate opened to let them in so when they got to their seats they were able to get baseballs. I'm not sure who was more excited, Tyler or Josh. 2 hours before the game starts they let the eating begin. Josh ate 5 hotdogs, nachos and peanuts. Tyler ate 2 hotdogs, 2 nachos and 2 popcorn. I couldn't believe that he ate that much and that Josh let him eat it. So at 3 in the morning Tyler comes into my room crying. I thought he had a nightmare so I gave him a hug and he hurls hotdogs and popcorn kernels all over me, in my hair, all over the carpet, on my white rug, and all over my clothes that I left on the floor. It took me an hour to clean everything. What a night! At least it only happened once and then he felt totally better.

There were about 12 of us last night! That was so much fun but a LAME ending! Why? Molly! Really! Really! Why propose to Melissa then. Why not just say I pick you, but lets see when we get back home if we really work. Then it would not have been a big deal to have gone back to Molly.
Whatever, the show destroys all of its contestants. For some reason it still draws me to it season after season.

The Bachelor Party

It's the finale again! Some of you may already know what's going to happen, but it's still fun to watch it together. We will probably start watching around 830-845 on Monday night. I will make some treats and if you want to bring something you can, but you don't have too! Hope to have you here. Oh yeah, and come in pj's or sweats because that's what I will be wearing.

Happy Anniversary!

Josh and Erika Bladh
Sealed in the L.A. Temple
February 22, 2003



I can't believe that it's been 6 years of marriage to the most perfect man for me. Josh, we have been through our share of trials together. Some of those I wished we had done without; however, they have made our relationship so much stronger. There really is no one else that I wish to share this journey with.

I love the way you...
1. Make me laugh when things aren't even funny.
2. Never let me walk by you without a kiss, a hug, or a touch.
3. Help out with the kids, even when you are tired from a 12 hour work day
4. Wink at me when we are out in public.
5. Rub my feet and give me massages.
6. Take care of me, the kids, and the home when I'm sick or had a bad day.
7. Recognize the hard work I do everyday.
8. Encourage me to take care of myself.
9. Are a dad. Sometime I think our kids love you more.
10. Squeegee the shower glass after I take my shower cause I hate doing it.
11. Want to be with me all the time.
12. Cuddle with me whenever I want to.
13. Argue. You play fair.
14. Work hard. You are so smart and business savvy. It's really hot!
15. Look! You are sexy!

I could keep going on. I love you so much and are so grateful to be sealed for all eternity. I love you! I love you! I love you!

Here are some fun memories!

Maui, our favorite place in the world

Date night

7 1/2 months pregnant with Elle

Our Wicked Trip

Beach trip '08

Mexican Riviera Cruise

Elle's visit to the hospital

Elle's EEG at San Antonio Hosptial

February 5th 2009

As most of you know Elle has been seeing 4 different teachers for 5 hours a week and a neurologist who just ordered 2 blood tests and an EEG. We did the blood tests which she did wonderful at. No crying or whining from her but I almost passed out.
She really is a trooper and always has a smile on her face. We just love and adore her. We wouldn't change her for anything.... anything! She is growing and making lots of progress. Thanks to all of you for your fasting and prayers. We really know that it is through those that she has been making so much progress.

The night before the EEG I had to keep her up to 11pm and then wake her up at 6am. The tricky part was keeping food away from her because she couldn't eat at all. We got at the hospital at 8am and spent the next couple of hours playing in the pediatrics playroom and getting checked by doctors and nurses. San Antonio has the cutest pediatrics. At about 1030 they gave Elle medicine that knocked her out after 20 minutes of drinking it. She was suppose to stay asleep but woke up in the middle of the test. The nurses and doctors couldn't believe she woke up considering the heavy sedation and little sleep she had the night before. Hopefully we won't have to do it again.
We couldn't leave until Elle kept food down and stayed awake for 30 min. Poor thing she threw up after eating 3 crackers. She fell right back in a deep sleep and I let her stay that way for a half hour. Then I woke her up again and feed her some juice and she kept it down. We left the hospital at 1pm. She seemed fine all day, but Friday she threw up twice and was off until Sunday. But she seems to be her cute, happy, smiley self again.
Here are some pictures of her!





WE LOVE YOU ELLE!
Your Heavenly Father has something amazing for you in store.

Erika's Half Marathon

January 10, 2009

Since I am the slowest person at updating my blog... here are some pics of the half marathon (13.1 miles) I did 3 weeks ago.

Irvine Half Marathon
Completed in 2 hrs. 9min. (average 9min 54 sec. mile)
And I never stopped running (if running slow counts)

Thanks to my in-laws for coming and taking pictures. It really was a wonderful accomplishment and very emotional for me as I saw the finish line and passed. Josh took some video of it so once I figure out the camera I will put some on! I always thought just 3 miles was a lot, but it really wasn't that hard to build my body up to 13 miles. Really anyone who can run 1 mile can work up to it. I'm ready for my next 1 so anyone interested?


I just passed the finish line, but I think that I am bent over because my legs just tightened up the minute I stopped running.
Josh was so kind to bring me a smoothie. Poor Elle was throwing up the night before and for the next couple of days, but Josh knew how important it was for everyone to be there! Thank you Elle for being a trooper. She's so cute!
http://www.finishshots.com/popup.php?z=%2FProofphotos%2F2009%2FSouthernCaliforniaHalfMarathon%2F2503%2FDSC_0143.jpg&width=184&height=274&title=Preview

****** Christmas Trip to D.C/ Virginia ******

December 20 - December 28 2008

We took a family trip with the Bladh side of the family during Christmas to Washington D.C. and Virginia. We saw some awesome historical sites... things that are only in pictures, that you think
are only in stories. It really brings our countries history to an amazing light. Our founding fore fathers really were guided by God in order to bring a country full of future and freedom.

We had a great time with all of the family in the 4 bedroom condo we stayed at in Virginia. Tyler and Elle get so much attention being they are the only 2 grand children in the family thus far.

The hard thing about this trip is it isn't young child friendly, don't go to Washington in the middle of winter, found out I don't want to be away from home during Christmas, count on not getting any sleep as long as Elle is in the same room as us, and bring lots of meds just in case your children get colds, stomach flu and ear infections since Tyler and Elle did. On a positive note, we missed our adjoining flight in Chicago because of weather so we should have had to stay 4 extra days in Chicago if some awesome person didn't bump us up over 111 people for standby and we made it home the next day.

Overall, it was a positive experience. One everyone should try at least once.

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Mt. Vernon - Washington's Home

No picture policy but you can see the house in back of us.

This is Washington's backyard. If you saw National Treasure 2 at President's birthday party... this is it! Awesome view.
Elle did a pretty good job with the lack of sleep she got. The night before she was up to 3:30am (because of travel) and then got up at 9am and didn't take a nap that day.
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Pentagon, Arlington Cemetery, Lincoln Memorial

No picture policy in the Pentagon. Kind of a boring tour, but the memorial site for 9-11 was really tender.


This is what I mean by don't go with little children in the middle of winter
Arlington Cemetery was one of those places that just makes me feel good about our country. Since it was so cold it was hard to really feel the reverence there, but it still had an impact on me. The rows and rows and rows and rows of tombstones. This is the unknown soldier site and the funeral services are held here.

The "Unknown Soldier" graves. Each tombstone represents a war and the unknown soldiers in that war. There is always (24/365) a soldier present to guard the tombs. He marches 21 steps in 21 seconds then stops and counts 21 seconds and resumes again. Amazing!
Lincoln Memorial was way different then I expected. Lincoln is way larger in person then you see in pictures.
Taken from Lincoln Memorial. Washington Monument in the background.
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Smithsonian, Capital Building and Library of Congress

This is the peak of the interior of the Capital Bldg. To give an idea of how high the peak is the people in the paintings are about 11 ft. in length. It is really cool in person.
In this room there is an individual statue for each state. Brigham Young represents Utah.

This is the original congress room. They of course wouldn't allow us to see the current room. But it looked really cool.


The exterior of the Library of Congress

Interior of the library. Amazing workmanship!
One of the Smithsonian Museums. Lots of fun stuff for kids.History of Transportation. Tyler loved all the trains.

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Christmas in Virginia

We made it the best we could. Santa came! And we played a family game of out door volleyball. (crazy, it was 65 degrees on Christmas when it was 25 degrees 2 days before in DC) But I might add it was very different and a little hard, but we were with family and that's what really counts.

Christmas Dinner - we did a pretty good job!

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The day before we left we visited Colonial Williamsburg, Virginia. It is 1 among the first towns settled in our country.

Below is the Governor's palace. Thomas Jefferson and other well known politicians lived here.

Tyler and Elle just loved running through this shrubbery maze behind the palace

Cute little orchard in the backyard of the palace.

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My favorite part of our vacation. We went to D.C. Temple and went inside for 45 min. while the older kids watched our kids. My parents were married there 33 years ago. Loved it!

Sorry to bore with everything but if I don't get to scrapbooking this will be my scrapbook!